Coronavirus in Texas

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More than 30% of Texans are fully vaccinated against COVID-19

by Texas Tribune Staff Updated: 3 hours ago

The Texas Tribune is using daily data from the Texas Department of State Health Services to track coronavirus vaccinations, cases, hospitalizations and deaths. Full Story 

Latest coverage

• CDC lifts mask guidance for fully vaccinated people — but less than a third of Texans are fully vaccinated

  by Shawn Mulcahy May 13, 2021

  The announcement will likely give new life to the debate about requiring vaccinations that has been playing out in Texas and across the nation. Full Story 

• Texas announces Pfizer vaccine now available to adolescents as young as 12 years old

  by Marissa Martinez Updated: May 13, 2021

  Parental consent is required for vaccinating children in this age group, either orally or in writing, though the guardian does not necessarily need to be present for the shot itself. Full Story 

• How a small Texas town doubled its COVID-19 vaccination rate in a month as the state’s rate declined

  by Karen Brooks Harper May 12, 2021

  Mount Pleasant in northeast Texas lags behind the state in its vaccination rate, but the town is boosting its numbers by mobilizing churches, nonprofits and other trusted community leaders to help overcome residents’ fears and doubts. Full Story 

• Resuming in-person learning at Texas schools last fall accelerated spread of COVID-19, study says

  by Marissa Martinez Updated: May 11, 2021

  The researchers said the additional cases they tracked after students began returning to schools represented 12% of the state’s total cases during the eight weeks after reopening and 17% of deaths. Full Story 

• Don't skip your second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, health experts warn

  by Elvia Limón May 4, 2021

  As of April 25, about 5% — or 570,399 — of Texans who had received the first dose were 43 days or more past due for their second dose. Full Story 

• COVID-19 variant cases are on the rise in Texas. Here’s what you need to know.

  by Marissa Martinez May 3, 2021

  The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says vaccines and other preventive measures like social distancing and mask-wearing should protect people from variants. Full Story 

• With half of eligible Texans still unvaccinated and supply exceeding demand, Texas shifts COVID-19 vaccination strategies

  by Karen Brooks Harper May 3, 2021

  Locals are also brainstorming incentives, sending out emergency cellphone alerts, running clinics in workplace break rooms and hanging sign-up sheets in churches. Full Story 

• Texas House lifts its mask requirement for chamber and committees

  by Juan Pablo Garnham April 29, 2021

  The resolution was passed in a 99-46 vote. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still suggest that people wear masks in public places, especially indoors. Full Story 

• Texas lawmakers hope to exclude places of worship from emergency closures after COVID-19 pandemic shuttered doors

  by Neelam Bohra April 28, 2021

  Even some religious groups are opposed to Texas legislation that would bar government officials from closing places of worship in any situation — even during a pandemic. Full Story 

• An East Texas doctor is on a mission to vaccinate her community against COVID-19

  by Alana Rocha, Todd Wiseman and Justin Dehn April 24, 2021

  After months of testing for COVID-19 and treating patients, Dr. Carolyn Salter is determined to mitigate the spread of the virus in the region. Listen in the weekend edition of The Brief podcast. Full Story 

• Texas recommends resuming Johnson & Johnson vaccine shots after CDC, FDA give green light

  by Karen Brooks Harper Updated: April 23, 2021

  The news comes a day after state health officials said that a Texas woman who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine had been hospitalized with blood clots and whose condition was being investigated by the CDC as potentially connected to the vaccine. No other details were released. Full Story 

• COVID-19 vaccine demand drops in Texas, though less than a quarter of population is fully vaccinated

  by Marissa Martinez, Juan Pablo Garnham and Mandi Cai April 23, 2021

  Local health officials reported shorter lines and less demand at vaccination sites, and warned that there's still much work to be done to make Texans safe from the virus. Full Story 

• Watch: Texas’ small-business owners balance service and safety after end of mask mandate

  by Jackson Barton and Justin Dehn April 21, 2021

  Three Austin business owners describe how the end of the state's mask mandate affected them and how they have navigated the crossroads of service and safety. Full Story 

• Ted Cruz among a small number of Republicans opposing bill to address hate crimes against Asian Americans

  by Bryan Mena April 16, 2021

  The junior senator was among only six Republicans who opposed advancing a bill that would expedite the processing of hate crimes against Asian Americans by the Justice Department. Full Story 

• COVID-19 ravaged Texas nursing homes. Here are the stories behind the numbers.

  by Carla Astudillo and Karen Brooks Harper April 15, 2021

  Nearly 9,000 Texas nursing home residents have died of COVID-19. This is what the last year of chaos and isolation was like for nursing homes residents and the employees who care for them. Full Story 

• Texans hit hardest by coronavirus are facing another challenge: the pause on the J&J vaccine

  by Karen Brooks Harper and Mandi Cai Updated: April 14, 2021

  Efforts to vaccinate young people, rural Texans, communities of color and people experiencing homelessness have been impacted by the pause. Full Story 

• Texas coronavirus cases haven't surged since Gov. Greg Abbott lifted the mask order. Experts warn it's too soon to celebrate.

  by Patrick Svitek April 14, 2021

  Daily new cases and the positivity rate have leveled off over the past month, while deaths and hospitalization have gone down substantially. Full Story 

• Analysis: Returning to normal before the Texas herd has immunity

  by Ross Ramsey April 14, 2021

  Texas is still about 13 million people away from herd immunity to the coronavirus. The state is chasing that goal even as Texans begin to act like the pandemic is over. Full Story 

• Texas pauses J&J vaccinations as feds plan to review six reports of blood clotting among 6.8 million doses nationwide

  by Karen Brooks Harper Updated: April 13, 2021

  At the state's three FEMA vaccination sites in Dallas, Arlington and Houston, officials said that vaccine efforts would continue but that officials would not be administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Full Story 

• “I’ve never done any of this”: A Texas parent reluctantly dives into a school district’s battle over masks

  by Bekah McNeel, The74Million.org April 12, 2021

  Olivia Weisinger found herself thrust into a new, unofficial public role after the Comal Independent School District decided to lift its mask requirement. Full Story